Griffith knocks in game-winner in ninth inning to lift Appleton North softball past Fond du Lac
AppletonSportsPage.com
APPLETON – Lila Griffith singled home pinch runner Keira Hughes with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Appleton North softball team earned a 5-4 win over Fond du Lac in walk-off style Tuesday at North High School.
Appleton North scored four times in the opening inning, capped by atwo-run single from Brianna Gehrman only to see Fond du Lac chip away and tie the game in the fourth.
The 4-4 tie held until the ninth when Maggie Hendrick led off with a single and was eventually erased on a fielder’s choice.
Hughes came in to pinch run and stole second before scoring on Griffith’s single up the middle to give the Lightning (7-9, 5-5 FVA) the home win.
Charlotte Radtke picked up the pitching win for North, giving up just one run in six innings of relief. She allowed three hits and four walks, while striking out eight. Radtke also had two hits.
Gehrman finished 3-for-4, and Griffith and Alyssa Wald also had two hits each for the Lightning.
Susan Vokes hit a home run for Fond du Lac (11-5, 7-3 FVA).
Appleton North will play at Oshkosh West on Thursday.
Lightning 5, Cardinals 4 (9 inn.)
Fond du Lac 012 100 000 – 4 8 2
Appleton North 400 000 001 – 5 12 0
WP: Charlotte Radtke. LP: Susan Vokes.
SO: McKenna Thome (3 inn.) 2, Vokes (5 2/3 inn.) 7; Sophia Wald (3 inn.) 3, Radtke (6 inn.) 7. BB: Thome 2, Vokes 0; S. Wald 3, Radtke 4.
Top hitters: F, Vokes 2×3, HR, 2 runs, RBI; Mallory Thorpe 2×3, 2 RBI. AN, Alyssa Wald 2×5, 2B, RBI; Lila Griffith 2×5, RBI; Radtke 2×4; Brianna Gehrman 3×4, 2 RBI.
Records: Fond du Lac 11-5, 7-3 Fox Valley Association; Appleton North 7-9, 5-5 Fox Valley Association.